Conducting an IHC Study - Factors to Consider: Part 1

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a method for demonstrating the presence and location of proteins in tissue. IHC enables the observation of processes in the context of intact tissue, which is especially useful for assessing the progression and treatment of certain diseases. Immunohistochemical staining is accomplished with antibodies that recognize the target protein. Since antibodies are highly specific, the antibody will only bind to the protein of interest. The antibody and antigen interaction is then visualized using chromogenic detection.

Factors to consider before conducting an IHC study:

Target of InterestDetermine the target of interest, and tissue species and tissue type to be stained.

Availability of Primary AntibodiesDetermine if there are any commercially available primary antibodies against that specific target through literature searches or antibody supplier searches, otherwise it may need to be produced in-house.